Design Engineering

Design engineering is the discipline that sits between creativity and technical rigour, concerned with developing products, systems and processes that are not only functional and reliable but thoughtfully designed to meet human needs and work beautifully. Where pure engineering might focus on making something that works, design engineering asks how to make something that works well, that is intuitive to use, aesthetically coherent and produced with the sustainability and manufacturability that real-world deployment demands. It is a discipline increasingly valued by industry as it becomes clearer that technical capability and design thinking must work together.

At Aston University, this three-year full-time programme includes a sandwich placement year, a year abroad and a work placement, giving you substantial professional and international experience before you graduate. You will study the core engineering sciences, including mechanics, materials, thermodynamics and electronics, alongside design methodology, product development, computer-aided design, prototyping, systems engineering and the human factors and sustainability considerations that good design must address. You will work on design projects that challenge you to integrate technical knowledge and creative problem-solving, developing both the depth and the breadth that the profession demands.

Graduates in design engineering move into product development, systems engineering, industrial design, innovation management and consulting across a wide range of industries. Consumer goods, automotive, aerospace, medical devices, robotics, sustainable energy and the technology sector all employ design engineers who can bridge the gap between technical teams and the end users they serve. The placement and international experience built into this degree give graduates a significant practical advantage.

Professional registration with the Institution of Engineering Designers or another engineering institution is a natural next step, and postgraduate study in design, engineering or innovation management is also a common pathway.